School district employees across-the-board will receive a 3 percent pay raise effective July 1, based on a $55 million balanced budget for the coming fiscal year preliminarily approved by the school board last week.
The 2016-17 budget, a 5.7 percentage increase over the previous year’s budget of $52.3 million, will also provide for additional staffing of two elementary science teachers, one special education teacher and a plumber. The budget includes a $3 million reserve to address unforeseen situations. A final vote is set for Tuesday, June 28.
The pay raise will add $1 million in additional costs for teacher salaries and $361,000 more for the new positions salaries, said Dean West, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services.
Budget revenue from property taxes is projected to increase by 5 percent, or $2.3 million, compared to a year ago, the preliminary budget says.
“The district was able to provide a 3 percent salary increase while maintaining a balanced budget inclusive of our agreements reached on salaries,” West said.
Employee compensation represents 74.8 percent of the general fund budget. Pay to 321 district employees amounts to $41.4 million, according to the budget. The remaining 25.2 percent of the budget will be spent on books and supplies, other services, capital improvement costs and payments to other educational agencies such as the Regional Occupational Program (ROP).
Local property taxes account for 87 percent of the school district’s budget, while federal assistance accounts for 1.6 percent, state revenue accounts for 5.8 percent and local revenue sources add in 4.7 percent, including contributions by Schoolpower, an organization that provides enrichment funds for public schools.
Although employee benefits show a $1 million decrease, West said it is in line with a one-time contribution of $2 million added in last school year’s budget for retirement health care costs.
The district will receive $237 per pupil in state funds related to a school funding measure, Proposition 30, which voters approved in 2012.
In addition to the district-wide pay raise, the budget includes several one-time costs for improvements. These include lighting and field upgrades at El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools. At Thurston, improvements include field renovation, upgrading lighting and adding two classrooms by summer 2018. At Laguna Beach High, ventilation in Dugger Gym will be improved by adding air conditioning fans. Lighting upgrades will also be made at the district office and warehouse.
The estimated budget will be re-reviewed by the school board twice as the year unfolds, in December and March, West said.
WOW!!! Three percent, 3%, $3000 IF you make $100,000. A timid pay raise for the educators of our children, the future of Laguna Beach, California, the USA and the world. So glad the city ‘balanced’ the budget on this misery offering.
Meanwhile the new ASSISTANT city manager gets a 1.7 million dollar home, 2% apr on the loan, and 50% down to sweeten the transaction. All these perks for city employees that are “essential” in times of emergency.
Educators get a measly 3%. Guess they are not that essential. Education is not an emergency…or essential.
So a city employee gets our tax dollars since it would be too difficult to drive from Anaheim to Laguna? And these same employees not get every other Friday off? AND they received a raise too…??????? Oh those poor city employees….. And I wonder where the local educators must drive form to educate the future of our city.
I would have hoped Laguna Beach valued their future of their children over someone getting a tax-funded move.
I’ve been here paying my property taxes since 2000 and I’ve funded down payments, loans and purchases of city employees……geesh…what a sucker.
*miserly